Appalachian State University and the town of Boone celebrated Appalachian States first official day as a member of the Sun Belt Conference with a series of Sun Belt Day events on Tuesday. The day began with the Boone Chamber of Commerces Wake Up Watauga breakfast
on the club level of the Appalachian Athletics Center. Sun Belt Conference associate commissioner John McElwain, Appalachian State director of athletics Charlie Cobb and App State football coach Scott Satterfield talked about the Mountaineers long-anticipated arrival in the Sun Belt and answered questions from the large crowd. The entire event was broadcasted live across the High Country on WATA 1450 AM.

After breakfast, Satterfield, mens basketball coach Jim Fox and womens basketball coach Darcie Vincent participated in Appalachian States Coaches in the Community event. The coaches dropped in on offices across campus and businesses throughout the community to pass out Sun Belt apparel and thank staff members for their continued support of the Mountaineers.

At 11 a.m., new Appalachian State Chancellor Dr. Sheri N. Everts, Cobb and Appalachians new-look Yosef mascot took turns applyng paint to the new Sun Belt logo that will grace the turf at Kidd Brewer Stadium. It was the first appearance at The Rock for Dr. Everts, who is in her first day as Appalachians seventh Chancellor.

In the afternoon, student-athletes and coaches representing Appalachian States football, mens and womens basketball, volleyball, womens soccer and mens and womens cross country and track and field programs were on hand at Wendys in Boone to help kick off Appalachians newly revamped Junior Mountaineer Kids Club. The coaches and student-athletes greeted, posed for pictures and signed autographs for dozens of children and helped many of them become the first Junior Mountaineer Kids Club members of the year.

The historic day closed with an official Sun Belt Day Reception, hosted by Appalachian State and the Town of Boone at the Jones House Community Center on King Street in Boone. Boone mayor Andy Ball spoke to a large crowd at the free public reception, as did Chancellor Everts, McElwain and Satterfield.

The event closed with a cake-cutting ceremony, with Everts doing the honors to officially ring in the Sun Belt era at Appalachian State.

In addition to the Sun Belt Day events, Appalachian State/Sun Belt Conference apparel and other merchandise are now available exclusively at all downtown Boone retailers, the University Bookstore on Appalachian States campus and Sports Fanatic at the Boone Mall. App State/Sun Belt merchandise will not be made available to any other retailers, including the App State Sports Online Store, until July 8.